Apartment Side

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Minimalist Photography by © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photograph of the Side of a residential apartment building in Jaipur City.

This Looking up Minimalist Photograph was taken at Swej Farm Jaipur. The place hosts a lot of residential and office apartments.

This shot was actually predetermined. Even before getting out of my house, I knew that I would be capturing a Windows in Repetition Minimalist Photograph.

All I had to do here was to find a good set of well designed simplistic windows that were mounted on a wall with a decent color. The gray color and white bordered windows were prefect for a Minimalist Frame and color palette.

The next thing was to not be too close to the subject rather shoot this from a distance. This would enable me to leave some negative space, show the objects as small and therefore maintain the Minimalism feel.

The other question that popped up in my head was whether to convert this photo into Black and White, but since the Gray and White combination acted as a good Minimalist color palette, I left the photo colored.

The EXIF Data of the Photo is as follows:

• Camera Model: Canon EOS 600 D
  
  
• Lens: Canon 55-250 mm Prime Lens
  
  
• F-stop: f/8
  
  
• Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec.
  
  
• ISO speed: ISO-200
  
  
• Focal Length: 123 mm
  
  
• Metering mode: Pattern
  
  
• Exposure program: Manual
  
  

Hope you enjoyed the Apartment Side Minimalist Photograph.

Thank you for your time. Have a Nice Day !

Black and White Line Pattern Minimalism - 2 Images

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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These are 2 Black and White Line Pattern Minimalism Images that I shot at Jawahar Kala Kendra last Sunday

• Minimalism Type: Less Elements
  
  
• Subject: Light falling on a Wall through a small roof made of Pipes
  
  
• Color Tones: Black and White

• Style: Looking Up

•  Aesthetics:

         (a) Use of Simple Geometry aka Lines 

         (b) Pattern / Repetition

         (c) Light and Shadow/ Natures Art

         (d) Core Simplicity

• Camera Used: Canon 600D
  
  
• Lens Used: Canon 50 mm Prime F/ 1.4
  
  
• Camera Mode: Full Manual
  
  
• Camera Filter: Monochrome (RAW+JPEG)
  
  
• Photo Type: I chose to edit the JPEG version
  
  
• Editing: Adjustment of Levels, Brightness and Contrast
  
  

Hope that you enjoyed the shots. 

 

Good Day !

Three Earthen Clay Vessels

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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I found these Three Earthen Clay Vessels lying on the ground in front of Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur. 

One finds a lot of pigeons on the ground there. Visitors to the museum, generally buy food from the pigeon food sellers and feed the birds. 

These empty clay vessels were kept for the birds to drink water from. But, because of the Summer Heat, all the drinking water for the birds dried up. 

... And they forgot to refill it. 

Maybe the food sellers were too busy making the money.

Photo Details:

• Minimalism Type: Repeating Shapes
• Camera: Canon 600D
• F Stop: f/3.5
• ISO: 100
• Exposure Time: 1/200 sec

Windows in Repetition Vs The Green Tree

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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This shot falls under the Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes Category. What we have here, is a repetition pattern created by the Windows of the rooms of a hotel in Jaipur. 

I have purposefully placed the Green Tree on the bottom left corner of the frame, so as to break the Pattern of Repetition. Without the Green Tree, the shot would be too vanilla, at least for me.

I shot this from an over-bridge, in-case you were wondering from where I got the height in the frame. Its the result of the over-bridge elevation, that I am looking-up but yet my view is kind of flattish or parallel to the ground. 

Other than the height, the 100 mm Macro Lens helped me to shoot this comfortably from a distance.

Hope that you enjoyed the shot and the Minimalist explanation ;)

Stay tuned for more.  

*In-case you haven't noticed. My Sales Store is now loaded with about 450 photos :)

Have a look here https://prakash-ghai.pixels.com/ 

All Photos Ship Worldwide. 

Thank you !

Colorful Squares

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Photo By © Prakash Ghai
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This photo was taken on Sunday 23.04.2017. I quoted the date because I had been going out in the hunt for Minimalist Photos from the past 5 Sundays and I found a few Minimalist Shots only Last Sunday i.e the 23rd of April 2017. This never happened with me before, in the 4 years of Photography career. For 4 Sundays in a row, I dint find anything worthwhile. I spent 1 hour roaming around on my bike every single time, only to return empty handed. 

If I do some Number Crunching or some Numerology sort of Calculation, the only logic that comes to my mind is this. If I add up all the numbers in the date 23.04.2017  the total comes to Number 19 or 2+3+4+2+1+7 = 19 And guess what, 19 is my birth number, I was born on 19th June. Aha. Well I can only wonder what just happened. 

Anyways lets get back to the Photo :)

I went to a new Place this Sunday. Its a place where there are a few Shopping Malls very close to each other. Its called Gaurav Towers or GT in short. I found nothing around to main complex, but right behind it I found this beautiful textured wall with Colorful Squares in Repetition. 

This is a Lookup Minimal Shot, as I was looking up and pointing my camera at the Subject. The Lens I used was the 100mm prime Macro Lens by Canon. I had to crop this photo from the top and the bottom as well to balance the aesthetics. In the photo above, you can see 8 Squares. 4 Red ones and 4 Yellow ones. Actually, there were many more of them but to de-clutter the shot, I chose this Set of 8 and moved closer to the subject, till they fitted nicely till the side edges of the frame. 

Also note the Small little flying bird on the Bottom right Corner. I posted this Photo under the Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes category of Minimalist Photography because the Squares are in repetition.

You can also Post this under Minimalism as in Small Objects, claiming that the Flying bird on the bottom right as your main subject, if that you did intentionally. 

But wait, don't wonder and say that it is impossible to time the bird. It is possible, as usually you would find a lot of birds sitting on high rise buildings with these box or square kind of openings in them. To get a bird in your frame, you can simply compose your frame, press half shutter button and take your eyes off the camera and look directly at the movement of the birds. The moment you see one of the birds fly across, press the shutter down completely. And there you have it.

Today, I dint expect to write such a long post, but I hope you liked the long explanation. :)

Thank you for your time here.  

Related Post: 

• Colorful Rectangles

6 Arcs

Minimalism as Less Elements

Photo By © Prakash Ghai 
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Apart from Jawahar Kala Kendra, that I keep mentioning in my posts, this place "Jantar Mantar" is my second favorite in Jaipur. The reason is simple. The place is full of colorful, geometric astronomical instruments. The primary colors that one would find there are, yellow, red, brown and whites. That makes for a really nice color palette. And of course if you choose to add the blue sky, like how I did above, then its even better. Well, as you can see, I have categorized this picture under "Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes", rather than "Minimalism as Less Elements". The reason is, that the 6 arcs in repetition (part of the yellow wall) is my primary subject in the photo and everything else around it has been used to redirect the viewers eye to it. For examples, the curve coming in from the right, points nicely to it. Also, the two rectangular frames around the arcs, gives them core attention. There are these other types of "Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes" where the shapes in repetition, encompass the entire frame and thereby does away with the distracting elements. Thus, reflecting core simplicity. One such example on it from one of my previous posts is "Surrounded by Greed". 

So, those shots are also valid along with these kind of "Newer" Minimal of Repetition shots. Of course these are more interesting. But mind you, a very very clear redirection of the viewers eyes to the core subject is required, so you have to hit the bulls eye every-time. Such compositions, I call advanced Minimalist Visual Art. Because, here you try and challenge the definition and types of minimalism, by bending the rules, by being more creative and explorative. And at the same time, you still managed to stay within the rules. That is this thing about art. We have to keep experimenting, otherwise we shall always remain within a shell.

The Over-bridge

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Black and White Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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One big curve formed by the Over-bridge, Street Lights in repetition and Two Wires running across the frame.

The Minimalist Composition looks tough, isn't it? 

Yes and No. This was full of clutter in color, but after turning the photo into black and white it looked fairly simple. Therefore, when your photos look cluttered in color, try turning them to black and white. This does away with a lot of distraction and makes the look simpler.

The composition

I started by aligning the big Over-bridge Curve first and then I let the "Street Lamps in Repetition", just fall in place. I made sure that the lamps were 90 degrees upright. The two wires running across the frame adds to the Minimalist Aesthetics beautifully. The photo falls under the Minimalism Category: Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes i.e the Four Street Lamps.

10 Squares

Minimalism as Simple Geometry

 

Black and White Minimalist Photography By © Prakash Ghai
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Shapes communicate well with the sub-conscious mind especially when it comes to Simple Geometry. I personally love Squares, All four sides of a square are well measured and equal, psychologically hinting at a perfectly planned and a well crafted Life. That could be my reason as to why I love Squares.

What is the Simple Geometry shape that you love? and Why? Leave your answer in the comments. That would be interesting to know.

Many observers would see this as 9 squares, but a hardcore Minimalist has the ability to zoom out and consider the window itself as 1 big Square having 9 squares in repetition within it, making a total of 10 Squares.

Perspective is what matters the most in Minimalism and a change of perspective can do wonders for your photography, not only Minimalist Photography but other compositions/photography genres as well.

Other Minimalist Photos that also contain a Square:

- Circle Square Waves

- Lines Vs Square

- Right Angled Triangle Vs The Square

- White Square

Blue Lines

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Zoom lenses are effective to shoot such kind of minimal as you can zoom in and capture beautiful architecture and the patterns in it. Repetition looks very simple to shoot but hard to find and compose, try heading to a busy street with lots of shopping complexes and ultra modern buildings, they are the ideal place to be. Coming back to the composition whats special is that not only does the horizontal blue lines repeat themselves but the yellow ones that cross them vertically also do. Because zoom lenses in general don't retain a lot of color and contrasts you will have to additionally add them using a basic photo editing software.

Photo by © Prakash Ghai - Buy Now

Circle Square Waves

Minimalism as Simple Geometry 

Minimalist Photography by © Prakash Ghai
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Looking for geometry on the walls is one of the best ways to shoot Minimal, but make sure your are out there in the Sun. Shoot between 4-6 pm and you will find the best of shadows and the games they play. As you can see here I have left negative space on the right and placed my subject in the top left corner. I could have clipped or evened out the Waves using more height for the shot or through a software but those are kept on purpose as that repetition adds beautifully to the simple geometric shapes here i.e the Circle and the Square.

and there you have it. A Minimalist photo including Circle Square Waves !

Other Minimalist Photos that also contain a Square:

- Lines Vs Square

- Right Angled Triangle Vs The Square

- 10 Squares

Repeating Curves

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Minimalist Photography by © Prakash Ghai
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These are curves in repetition, formed by the crease in a cloth exposed to directional sunlight. 

The photo falls under the Minimalist Photography category: Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes. These curves have been made to trend upwards to add a sense of dynamism to the photo. With the light being so bright, it gets extremely difficult to expose the subject in a correct manner. Therefore, I suggest using exposure bracketing mode in the camera.

I also recommend that one should always shoot in the RAW + JPEG mode. With that you can have full control over the shot. If you get the exposure right in the first place, its fine and you have your JPEG ready with you. JPEG's save you the headache and time taken to edit the photograph. But, in case you messed up with exposure, despite the bracketing or even without it, you still have the RAW file at your disposal, which you can almost fully mend in editing.  

Other Posts that include curves:

• The Pink Curve
• Twins from the Left

Lines and Color

Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes

Photo by © Prakash Ghai
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A Minimalist Photo of Steel bars and multicolored cloth of a temporary roof structure. 

This shot is from a real estate exhibition that I visited. I was standing in front of a beautifully lit realtor's stall and there were a lot of dazzling multicolored lights flashing all around it. 

When I looked up towards the roof I could see the reflection of the multicolored lights being cast on it, resulting in this extremely gorgeous riot of subtle colors, helping me create a beautiful yet simple Minimalist Photograph. 

Later, during editing I flipped the photograph to add a bit of mystery, as to how the shot was actually taken. 

The photograph falls under Minimalism as in Repeating Shapes category under Types of Minimalist Photography

Hope you enjoyed the photograph. Fell free to leave some comments below.

Good Day!